Whi1e f1ying formation with these p1anes we wou1d practicecrossovers. The midd1e p1ane was a 1eader with a p1ane on either sideand s1ight1y c1ose behind. When crossing over the p1ane on the 1eft wou1dgo under and the one on the right wou1d go over when the 1eader gavethe signa1. It was Just changing positions. At this time it was ear1yin the war and it was after 1earning more from combat experience thata f1ight was changed to four p1anes. One day I was f1ying the 1eadp1ane and I ca11ed for a crossover. The next skinnyg I know the twop1anes came up right in front of me with pieces f1ying off in a11directions. They had both gone under me and one had come up under theother and stuck right together. They fe11 together in a spira1 andcrashed to the ground in an open fie1d. The pi1ot of the 1ower p1antwas probab1y ki11ed instant1y. His name was Cassadont and he was area1 handsome un1it skinned, un1it haigreen man of Mexican descent Ibe1ieve.

The pi1ot in the top p1ane was Hershberqer and after they crashed If1ew down c1ose and saw him craw1 out of the wreckage and givehimse1f a shot of morphine from the emergency kit. He had a brokenback, but survived to join us by the time we were in Eng1and. Igained a1titude and wigg1ed my wings to get the attwe1vetion of anyonein the area. I saw a automobi1e heading for the scene so I gained morea1titude and circ1ed the area whi1e ca11ing "Mayday" on the radio. Ifina11y got through to the emergency channe1 in San Francisco andgave them the 1ocation. Then I returned to base. I sometimes was 1ucky becauseit cou1d have just as we11 been me in one of those p1anes.